Graeme McDowell moved to the top of the leaderboard midway through day two of the Andalucia Valderrama Masters.
The Northern Irishman carried on where he had left off on Thursday - when he carded a bogey-free round of 68 - to capitalise on a disappointing front nine from overnight leader Pablo Larrazabal.
McDowell made a three at the par four first to get to four under, a score that fellow countryman Gareth Maybin also reached with birdies at three and five before a bogey at the seventh dropped him into a tie for second place.
Robert-Jan Derksen was the other man hot on McDowell’s heels, with birdies at 10 and 11 taking him to two under for the day and three under for the tournament.
Larrazabal had led by two following a glorious first round 66, but he double bogeyed the third on Friday morning before losing further shots at the seventh and ninth holes.
A birdie at the par five 11th lifted the Spaniard’s spirits, but he still trailed McDowell by two.
Miguel Angel Jimenez was alongside Larrazabal on two under after an eventful 15 holes containing five birdies and four bogeys.
They were joined by Damien McGrane, who reached the turn in 35, Francesco Molinari, one under for the day through four holes, and Shiv Kapur - who had yet to begin his second round.
Swedes Peter Hedblom and Niclas Fasth were among those at one under, the latter surging up the leaderboard with three early birdies after a disappointing 73 on Thursday.
Gary Boyd had also moved into red figures, while Darren Clarke was at level par following two birdies and one dropped shot in his opening four holes, the Ulsterman having made five birdies and six bogeys in his opening 72.
Germany's Martin Kaymer, who holds a commanding lead over McDowell in the Race to Dubai and can also take over as World Number One this week, picked up his first birdie at the fourth to get back to level par.
